Let's see a show of hands on Conklin

Can I see a show of hands of who's played a real deal Conklin? I know that JT's played a Conklin or two so he doesn't count here.

My bass instructor is a Conklin endorsee and yesterday at my lesson he had a 4 string that was the proto-type for the a bass that Bill made for Rocco Prestia. This bass was PHENOMINAL! Bartolini P and J pickups, birdseye neck and fingerboard and some body wood that Jake, my instructor, says is a "Chinese swamp ash" ?? The bass is around 4 pounds. It was finished kinda like the ceruse finish that you find on the F Bass. I really liked the abalone position markers. I was literally blown away by this bass. I may be forced to put my Lakland up for sale.

This just really caught me off guard because my only real exposure to the Conklin's have been the Groove Tools basses. They've never really done anything for me and I've usually found that they weight too much to be practical. But this honey from Bill....I don't even seem to have words to describe it.

Unlike Mr. Turner, I've never had the pleasure to spend serious time with the USA custom Conklins but the Dickens signature 7 string I played at Bass Alone in San Diego was an absolutely exceptional instrument! I have no hesitation in recommending it and can easily imagine that the USA basses are great.

I figure this doesn't count, but I own a Groove Tools 7 and am pretty impressed. I've never had the opportunity to play a "real" Conklin bass, I know there better crafted than mine, so I know they most be pretty nice.

I've played all of JT's basses. They are really something. I'm usually not comfortable on any bass that has more than 4 strings, but because of the custom neck dimensions on JT's 7-strings, some of them feel more like 5-strings. They're shockingly easy to play. Light years better than the Groove Tools.

I played the Rocco model at the NAMM show, even though it's in the Groove Tools line up, it's still a great bass. I couldn't believe the HUGE difference between the Korean made and the "real" Conklins. Like Dave said, lights year's difference. Trust me, as a former owner of a GT 7, 7 strings are a lot easier to play than you'd think.

Yes, Jake's the man. Bill sent him the bass to play around with. Jake has been playing 4 string because of finger troubles. I was very impressed but would want it in a 5 string. I just couldn't get over how light it was. But with the Bart pickups and preamp it had tons of tone. The sustain was also went on forever.

I checked Bill's website but didn't find any info on that bass. Thank you for posting it. Unfortunately, that picture doesn't even begin to do THAT bass justice. With the birdseye maple neck and the tiger stripe on the pickguard. It is awesome. I really like the way that Bill extends the wood from the body up the back of the neck. It's a smooth transition that gives the upper end of the fingerboard a neck-through feel.

I've got a Conklin fund starting right now if anybody wants to contribute.

Man, this thing's amazing! It was waiting for me when I got back from Atlanta (Kudos to Hambone for taking me to Galaxy). The wood's gorgeous, although I wasn't too crazy about how the connection of the upper horn wood to the neck. It came with flatwounds, but it mwahs better than my Pedulla, although it doesn't have its bite. I love this thing!

john turnerYou don't want to do that. Trust me.Staff MemberAdministrator

good for you, bw. yeah, that's definitely macassar ebony on the board. for the longest time that was his fretboard wood of choice on the customs - 4 of my basses have that as a fretboard wood. good on fretless.